City leaders, volunteers and veterans met at San Diego High School Saturday for the second day of Stand Down for Homeless Veterans.
The 29th annual event started Friday and offers participants medical checkups, new clothing, job counseling and housing assistance, among other things.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer made it clear that housing for veterans is important to him.
“San Diegans have really stepped up,” he told NBC 7 Saturday. “We’ve made it a goal that we’re going to house 1,000 veterans this year. Our message today is we need extra help from some of our landlords to help house these veterans. And our message to veterans here at Stand Down today – your city stands behind you, your mayor’s with you, all of our partners are together to help give not only the tools you need to get back on your feet, but more importantly put a roof over your head.”
Organizers said it would be great if Stand Down was no longer needed.
"And that's really the goal,” Phil Landis of the Veterans Village of San Diego said. “It's always been the goal and so, the very first couple of years they figured, okay, we're going to put this thing together and you know, and then we're not going to have to do this after the second or third year, wrong, we're still here."
The event supports around 1,000 veterans and their families each year.
Local
More than 200 local vets already have houses thanks to the City's new Housing our Heroes program.
The event finishes Sunday.
